If you sell online in Pakistan, you already know the pattern: a customer adds something to the cart, reaches checkout and picks cash on delivery. Then, a few days later, the parcel comes back because nobody was home, or they changed their mind. You pay the courier both ways and the stock sits in a van.
Online payments fix a lot of that. The good news is that accepting JazzCash, Easypaisa and cards on your own website is far easier in 2026 than it was a few years ago. This guide walks through what to offer, what you need before you apply, how integration works and what it really costs.
Why your website should take online payments
Pakistanis already pay digitally every day. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, digital channels handled about 88% of retail transactions in the second quarter of FY25, and later quarters have reported even higher shares. Mobile wallets lead the way for online shopping.
Yet when people shop online, many still choose cash on delivery. In a Gallup & Gilani Pakistan survey reported by Dawn in December 2025, six out of ten respondents said they preferred COD. That gap between how people pay in daily life and how they pay online is exactly where a well-built checkout earns money.
- Fewer refused parcels. A prepaid order is a committed order.
- Faster cash flow. Money reaches your bank account in days, not after courier reconciliation.
- More trust. A proper checkout with familiar wallet logos makes a new brand look established.
Which payment methods to offer
You do not need every option on day one. For most Pakistani stores, these four cover almost every customer:
- JazzCash wallet. The customer enters their mobile number, approves the payment with an OTP or PIN, and is done. No card needed.
- Easypaisa wallet. Works the same way and is equally popular. Offer both, because customers are loyal to the wallet they already use.
- Debit and credit cards. Visa, Mastercard and, with some gateways, UnionPay. Most cards in Pakistan are debit cards, so make sure debit works smoothly.
- Bank transfer (IBFT or Raast). Useful for higher-value orders and for customers who prefer paying from their banking app.
Keep cash on delivery available, at least at first. The goal is to make online payment the easier and more attractive choice, not to force it.
Direct integration or a payment aggregator?
There are two ways to get these methods on your site.
Direct integration means applying separately to each provider, such as JazzCash and Easypaisa, and building each integration on its own. You get a direct relationship, but you also get separate applications, separate paperwork, separate dashboards and separate settlements.
An aggregator (sometimes called a payment service provider) gives you wallets, cards and bank transfers through one contract and one integration. Examples in Pakistan include PayFast, which the State Bank licensed as an e-commerce payment gateway in 2021, as well as Safepay and Simpaisa. For most small and medium stores, an aggregator is the faster route.
| Direct (per provider) | Aggregator | |
|---|---|---|
| Contracts | One per provider | One |
| Integration work | Separate for each method | One API or plugin |
| Dashboard and settlement | Several | One |
| Best for | Large businesses with high volume | Most new and growing stores |
What you need before you apply
Gateways must verify every merchant, so get these ready first. The bank account usually takes the longest, so start there.
- A registered business: sole proprietorship, partnership or an SECP-registered company.
- NTN from the Federal Board of Revenue.
- A business bank account in the same name as the business.
- CNIC copies of the owners or directors.
- A live website with real products, prices and contact details. A "coming soon" page will not be approved.
- Published policies: refund and returns, privacy, terms, and delivery information.
Each provider sets its own rules, so confirm the exact list with the gateway you choose.
How integration works
Once you are approved, you receive test (sandbox) credentials. The setup then follows the same pattern whatever your platform:
- Install or build the integration. WordPress/WooCommerce and Shopify stores usually use the gateway's plugin or app. Custom websites and mobile apps connect to the gateway's API.
- Test every method in sandbox: a successful wallet payment, a failed one, a cancelled one and a card payment.
- Handle the confirmation properly. Your site should mark an order as paid only when the gateway confirms it from its server, not just because the customer landed on a "thank you" page.
- Go live with production credentials, and place a small real order yourself.
- Check settlement a few days later to make sure the money reached your account.
Step 3 is where many DIY setups go wrong. If your store only trusts the redirect, a customer can reach the success page without paying. A developer should set up server-side confirmation (often called a webhook or IPN).
What it costs
Most gateways charge a percentage of each transaction, known as the merchant discount rate. Typical ranges quoted in the market are roughly 1.5% to 2.5% for mobile wallets and 2% to 3.5% for cards, with bank transfers often charged a small flat fee. Rates depend on your volume and the provider, so ask for a written quote.
Also check:
- Setup or annual fees, if any.
- Settlement time. Next-day settlement is much better for cash flow than a week.
- Tax deductions. Payment intermediaries may withhold tax on digital sales under current FBR rules. Ask your accountant how this applies to your business.
Five ways to get customers to choose online payment
- Put wallets first in the checkout, above cash on delivery.
- Offer a small reason to prepay, such as free delivery or faster dispatch for paid orders.
- Show the logos of JazzCash, Easypaisa, Visa and Mastercard on product and cart pages.
- Keep checkout short: phone number, address and payment. Do not force account creation.
- Confirm by SMS or WhatsApp right after payment, so the customer knows the money arrived.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Stripe or PayPal in Pakistan?
Not for a business based in Pakistan in the usual way. Local merchants use Pakistani gateways and aggregators instead, which also support the wallets your customers actually use.
How long does approval take?
Many gateways reply within a few working days, and onboarding including integration often takes one to two weeks once your documents are complete.
Can I accept payments in my mobile app too?
Yes. The same gateway account can usually power your website and your Android and iOS apps through its API or SDK.
Need payments set up on your store? Our team handles gateway selection, integration and testing for e-commerce websites and mobile apps. Tell us about your store and we will reply within one working day.